Hydrangea plant named &#39;SMHPCW&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘SMHPCW’ is disclosed, characterized by early flowering with flowers that turn pink to deep pink mid to late summer, strong stems and compact growth habit. The new variety is a  Hydrangea,  normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SMHPCW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Hydrangea. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during July of 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented commercial variety Hydrangea paniulata ‘SMHPRZEP’ The pollen parent is unknown, both in variety name and species, as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection July of 2010, at a greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMHPRCW’ by softwood cuttings was first performed during the July of 2013, at commercial greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 2 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMHPCW’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMHPCW’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMHPCW’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

1. Compact plant. 2. Early flowering. 3. Strong sterns. 4. Flowers emerge white, then turn pink to deep pink mid to late Summer.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMHPCW’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Hydrangea paniulata ‘SMHPRZEP’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SMHPCW’ differ in the following:

1. Earlier to bloom. 2. Flowers age to magenta pink. The seed parents ages to a lighter pink. 3. Branches grow upright and outward. The seed parent branches only upright.

Pollen parent unknown as this is a product of open pollination.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘SMHPCW’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Hydrangea ‘SMNHPPINKA’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘SMHPCW’ differs in the following:

1. Earlier blooming. 2. Flowers age to magenta pink. The comparator ages to a lighter pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SMHPCW” grown outdoors, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA, in the ground. Flowers on the plant are both the younger white flowers and older pink flowers.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical young flowers, which are white.

FIG. 3 illustrates the most mature flowers, colored dark pink. Age of the plants photographed is approximately 2-3 years. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The 2015 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMHPCW’ plants grown in a double layered poly greenhouse, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. daytime and 5° to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were taken during July to August of 2015.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea hybrid ‘SMHPCW.’     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 18 days at             approximately 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plants.—Approximately 90 days             at approximately 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium thickness, moderate root branching             and density, both fibrous and fleshy. Color is white, not             accurately identified with The R.H.S. chart.         -   Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—2-3 years.         -   Pot size.—2 gallon.         -   Growth habit.—Flowering perennial shrub, upright and             slightly outward branching.         -   Overall plant shape.—Upright.         -   Height.—Approximately 52 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 64 cm.         -   Plant vigor.—Strong, persistent.         -   Branching characteristics.—Upright and outward, basal             branches, some pinching required.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 45 cm.         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 12.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—1.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch shape and appearance.—Rounded and slightly             woody.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Strong, rigid.         -   Internode length.—4.3 cm.         -   Branch color.—Immature: Near RHS White 155B with striations             of Greyed-purple 186B. As it develops, turns to a darker             Greyed-purple 187D. Mature: Near RHS Grey-brown 199B blended             with Greyed-purple 187D.         -   Branch aspect.—0-35° from center of plant.         -   Branch pubescence.—Yes. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Average Length: New: 1.2 cm,             Mature: 5.8 cm Average Width: New: 0.7 cm, Mature: 4.8 cm             Shape of blade: Ovate Apex: Acute Base: Rounded Margin:             Serrulate Texture and appearance of top surface: Smooth,             coriaceous Texture and appearance of bottom surface:             Slightly pubescent, rugose Leaf Pubescence: Slightly on both             sides. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A             fading to Yellow-green 145A at the base. Young foliage under             side: Near RHS Green 141D Mature foliage upper side: Near             RHS Green 143A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green             139C Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Near             RHS Yellow-green 148A Venation color under side: Near             Yellow-Green 145D.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: New: 3 mm, Mature: 7 mm Diameter:             1.5 cm Color: Upper side: Near RHS Red-purple 59B with             Yellow-green 145A at the very base. Under side: Near RHA             Yellow-green 145B with a slight striation of Red-purple 59C             along the sides. Texture upper side: Smooth, coriaceous             Texture under side: Smooth, coriaceous, slightly pubescent. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: Early Summer through Fall.         -   Inflorescence.—Type: Mophead Quantity of flowers per             inflorescence: Fertile flowers, 34 approximately. Sterile             Flowers, 440 approximately. Persistent or self-cleaning:             Persistent. Fragrance: Slightly sweet.         -   Panicle.—Shape: Cone Height: 15 cm Diameter: 14 cm.         -   Sterile flower.—Androecium: Yes Bud shape: Orbicular Bud             length: 2 mm Bud diameter: 2.5 mm Bud color: Near RHS Whited             155B with Red-purple 63C on top. Flower aspect: Upright             Flower shape: Crucifix Flower length: 2 cm Flower Diameter:             5 cm. Flower Depth: 5 cm.         -   Sterile flower petals.—Length of petal: 2 mm Width of petal:             1 mm Apex: Acute Shape of petal: Ovate Petal margin: Entire             Petal Arrangement: Whorled Petal Base: Rounded to obtuse             Petal Number: 4 Petal Texture: Smooth, coriaceous, upper and             under side Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS             White 155B Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155B             Under surface at first opening: Near RHS White 155B Under             surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155B.         -   Sterile flower sepal.—Arrangement: Whorl Number: 4-5 Shape:             Ovate Tip: Acute Base: Obtuse Margin: Entire Length: 2 cm             Width: 2.4 cm Texture, Upper: Smooth, coriaceous Texture,             Lower: Smooth, coriaceous Color: Upper surface at first             opening: Near RHS White 155B Upper surface at maturity: Near             RHS White 155B with light speckling/blending with Red-purple             63C Under surface at first opening: Near RHS White 155B             Under surface at maturity: White 155B with light             speckling/blending with Red-purple 63C Upper surface fading             to: Near RHS Greyed-purple 184A Under surface fading to:             Near RHS Greyed-purple 184A.         -   Sterile flower pedicel.—Length: 1.5 cm Diameter: 1 mm Angle:             Upright and outward Strength: Good Texture: Smooth Color:             Near RHS White 155B.         -   Fertile flower.—Bud shape: Orbicular Bud length: 3 mm Bud             diameter: 3 mm Bud color: Near RHS Red-purple 68D Flower             aspect: Upright Flower shape: Star-like Flower length: 5 mm             Flower diameter: 5 mm Flower depth: 3 mm.         -   Fertile flower petals.—Length of petal: 2.5 mm Width of             petal: 1 mm Apex: Acute Shape of petal: Ovate Petal margin:             Entire Petal Arrangement: Whorl Petal Number: 5 Petal base:             Rounded Petal Texture: Smooth, upper and under side Color:             Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS White 155B Upper             surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155B with Red-purple 63B             on the tips and along the edges. Under surface at first             opening: Near RHS White 155B Under surface at maturity: Near             RHS White 155B with Red-purple 63B on the tips and along the             edges Upper surface fading to: Near RHS White 155B with             Red-purple 63B on the tips and along the edges Under surface             fading to: Near RHS White 155B with Red-purple 63B on the             tips and along the edges.         -   Fertile flower pedicel.—Angle: Outward/upright Strength:             Good Length: 2 mm Width: 0.5 mm Texture: Smooth Color: Near             RHS White 155B.         -   Fertile flower sepal.—Arrangement: Whorl Number: 5 Shape:             Ovate Tip: Acute Base: Fused Margin: Entire Length: 1 mm             Width: 1 mm Texture, Upper: Smooth Texture, Lower: Smooth             Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Yellow 8D             Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS Yellow 8D Under surface             at first opening: Near RHS Yellow 8D Under surface at             maturity: Near RHS Yellow 8D Upper surface fading to: Near             RHS Yellow 8D Under surface fading to: Near RHS Yellow 8D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Sterile flower.—Stamen number: 8 Filament length: 0.7 mm             Filament color: Near RHS White 155B Anther shape: Rounded,             fusiform Anther color: Near RHS Greyed-yellow 162D Anther             length: 1 mm Pollen amount: Very little Pollen color: Near             RHS Greyed-yellow 163D Gynoecium: No.         -   Fertile flower.—Stamen number: 10 Filament length: 3 mm             Filament color: Near RHS White 155B Anther shape: Oblong             Anther length: 1 mm Anther color: Near RHS Greyed-yellow             160B Pollen amount: Some Pollen color: Near RHS             Greyed-yellow 160B Pistil number: 1, two-lobed Pistil             length: 2.5 mm Stigma shape: Club Stigma color: Near RHS             Greyed-yellow 160C Style length: 1 mm Style color: Near RHS             Greyed-yellow 160C Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-green 150B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.         -   Cold tolerance.—−31° C. to 38° C.         -   Fruit/seed production.—No fruits/seeds detected to date.         -   Other traits.—Good strong branches. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMHPCW’ as herein illustrated and described. 